Rotary steam-engine.



No. 6%,!64. Patented Dec. 3|, l90l.

W. LAY.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed May 4, 1901.)

(lNn'MudeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 69mm. Patented Dec. 3|, l90l.

W. LAY.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed May 4, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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. No. 690,!64. Patented Dec. 3|, IQUI W. LAY.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed May 4, 1901.)

4 Sheets$heet 34 (No Model.)

'No. SWAN. Patented Dec. 3|, I901, W. LAY.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

1 Application filed May 4,

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(N0 Madel.)

UNTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM LAY, OF KREMLIN, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,164, dated December31, 1901.

Application filed May 4, 1901.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM LAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kremlin,

in the county of Garfield, Oklahoma Terri tory, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Rotary Steam-Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary steam-engines; and theobject is to provide a cheap, durable, and efficient machine of the kindnamed adapted to actuate any desired mechanism associated therewith orconnected thereto.

My invention consists in the novel construction of parts and theircombination, as will be hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed.

1 have fully and clearly illustrated the improvements in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents an end elevation ofan engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a topplan view. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the engine.Fig. 4is a transverse horizontal section. Fig. 5 is an inside plan viewof the bottom plate of the casing, showing the circular Way in which theexhaust-ring is seated. Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view, partly inhorizontal section, showing the construction of the piston and theexhaust-ports in the exhaust-ring. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of theexhaustring and the exhaust-tubes disposed therein.Fig.8isaverticallongitudinalsection through a modified form of motor.Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the preferred form of motor arranged toaccommodate a vertical piston.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the casing, made substantiallycircular or cylindrical, with an extension 1, wherein are located thesteamways 9 10, the valve 23, controlling the entrance of steam thereto,and the auxiliary inlet-ports 2 3, opening into the interior of thecasing. The interior of the casing is for a distance formed eccentric tothe perimeter of the piston, terminating in shoulders 4 5, thus formingenlargement of the steam-space in the piston, as indicated in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings at 6 7, as will be explained hereinafter. The initialimpulse to the piston is given through a central channel or pipe 8,communicating alternately with the casing 1 through the medium ofradiating Serial No. 58,807. (No model.)

ports 9 and 10, the inlet-ports 2 and 3 being merely auxiliary portswhich assist the eX- pansive force of the steam and are designed for thepurpose of providing a secondary impulse to the piston.

11 is a ball-bearing on which the piston 12 rests and has its bearingand is designed for the purpose of reducing the friction thereof withinthe cylinder.

13 designates a shaft or axle made fast in the hub 13 of the piston andcarrying on its upper end a crown-wheel 14, adapted to mesh withcorresponding gear in train with the machinery to be actuated by theengine. The lower end of the shaft 13 is concaved and seated on theball-bearing 11, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. From the hub 13extend radiating arms 15, carrying at their outer ends an inverted-L-shaped flange 16, formed with a determined number of recesses orchambers 16 and steam-pockets 31, communicating with said recesses, asshown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In the bottom plate of the casing isformed a circular depression or way 17, in which is disposed aplate-ring 16*, formed with exhaust-ports 18 at determined distancesapart, the ring being revolubly seated in the circular way 17, so thatas the ports in the plate-ring traverse over the port 20 in the bottomof the casing the steam is discharged in the well-known manner. Torevolve the ring 16, hollow sleeves or cups 18 are fixed therein incommunication with the ports in the ring and placed in the recesses 16of the piston, so that as the piston rotates it carries with it the ring16, and from time to time the ports are presented over the exhaust-port20 to discharge the steam. The sleeves or caps 18 are made steam-tightin the recesses of the piston by means of packingrings 19, as indicatedin. the drawings.

21 is a suitable base upon which the engine-casing rests, it beingunderstood that the structure above referred to is designed for ahorizontal engine; but it is immaterial Whether the engine is horizontalor vertical as far as the operation is concerned, as the invention maybe utilized in either form of engine.

Suitable forms of packing will be provided at convenient points on thecasing and all valves and joints be made steam-tight; but

will not be described.

In operation, all the parts being assembled, the operator will admitsteam into the casing through the medium of the primary duct or port 8and through one of the branch ports 9 or 10, as may be desired. In Fig.4 the valve 23 at the juncture of the ports 9 and 10 is turned so as toadmit steam to the port 10. Thus the piston will be rotated from left toright. The secondary impulse maybe given through the medium of the valve24 in the pipe leading from the duct 8 to the inlet-port 2. When,however, it is desired to reverse the engine, the valve 23 will beturned so as to admit the motive fluid through the port 9 and the valve25 will be opened to admit steam through the port 3. The valve 24 willof course then be closed, and the operation of the piston will be fromright" to left. As the piston rotates and carries the cups with it, themotive fluid will be exhausted therefrom as they pass the exhaust-port20.

' In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, 26 designates a casingprovided with a single offset 27 at one side thereof and an inlet-port28, controlled by a suitable valve 29. The construction of the piston issubstantially the same as the one described in the preferred form; butthis form of engine is particularly applicable to the vertical type. 30designates the shaft, concentrically arranged with relationto andconnected to said piston and on which a suitable fly-wheel may be fixed,as well as a drive-wheel, in the usual manner.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish tobe understood as limiting myself thereto, as Iam aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve theright to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing having anexhaust-port, and steaminlets, a rotary piston in the casing formed withsteam-pockets, and a ring rotated by the piston having openings thereinto successively register with the exhaust-port whereby the steam isdischarged from the steampockets of the piston..

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing having steam-inletpipes, a rotary piston in the casing formed with steam-pockets havingrecesses in their inner wall, a ring in the casing havingopenings'therein, and cups, having passages through them, secured in thering and disposed in the recesses of the steam-pockets, whereby the ringis revolved and the passages brought successively over the exhaust-portof the casing.

as these form no part of my invention they 2 3. In a rotary engine, thecombination of a casing having expanding recesses terminating inshoulders, and steam-inlets opening in advance of the shoulders andauxiliary inlets opening behind the shoulders, a revoluble ring, seatedin the side plate of the easing, formed with openings to register withthe port in the casing and tubular connections engaged by the piston tocarry the ring to bring the openings in the ring to register with theexhaust-port in the casing.

4:. A rotary engine comprisinga casinghaving inlet and outlet ports, andformed with shoulders arranged adjacent the inlet-ports to provideexpansion-chambers, a revoluble piston within said casing, a pluralityof equidistant cups carried in revolution in the path of theexhaust-port thereby and provided with right-angularly-disposed passagescommunicating with the exhaust-port and adapted to successively andindependently communicate with said exhaust-port.

5. A rotary engine comprising a casing having primary inlet ports andsecondary ports, and a shoulder arranged intermediate the primaryinlet-port and the secondary inletport to provide an expansion-chamber,a revoluble piston secured within'said casing and provided with aplurality of equidistant cups adapted to be carried in revolution by thepiston and to successively and independently receive the motive fluidand likewise independently and successively exhaust the same as theypass over the exhaust-port in the casing.

6. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a revoluble piston within saidcasing having an inverted-L-shaped flange arranged to form a pluralityof cups to receive the motive fluid,

a ring arranged adjacent said flange, hollow gaskets opening through thering, said gaskets being adapted to communicate with the exhaust-portand the cup for the purpose described.

7. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a primary duct communicatingwith said casingthrough the medium of radiating inletports, a valvearranged at the juncture of the inlet-ports and the primary duet, aplurality of secondary inlet-pipes leading from the primary duct to thecasing, valves arranged in said pipes, a revoluble piston within saidcasing provided with a plurality of equidistant cups, a hollow gasket ineach of said cups adapted to communicate with the exhaust-port of thecasing and means for reversing said piston.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LAY.

